Clatsop Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) trains community volunteers to stand up for abused and neglected children. Our advocacy helps ensure that these children have the best possible chance for a safer, more secure home life.

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Volunteer Spotlight

Jody Heverly

CASA Volunteer since 2014

Jody grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and lived there until she was 30 years old. Her family ended up moving to Iowa where they found it to be a wonderful place to raise children. While visiting Oregon for a family reunion they discovered the Oregon Coast and fell in love with the area. Jody and her husband decided to retire early and they found just the right spot on the North Coast to call home.

Reading, walking on the beach, volunteering at the food pantry in Gearhart, and working on helping women with scholarship opportunities are just a few of the things Jody does in her spare time. She was a teacher for 27 years and has taught students from every continent except for Antarctica.

While Jody’s daughter was in Law school in Portland she heard a presentation from CASA and thought that her mom would be a perfect fit and so she called Jody to encourage her to become a volunteer. Jody kept CASA on her radar but was spending much of her time caring for her parents in Seattle, and after they passed she took the training and made the commitment to become a CASA volunteer.

Since becoming a CASA Jody has had two cases. She has found the work to be rewarding, and she likes to challenge herself by stepping outside of her comfort zone. The biggest highlight for Jody has been the chance to get to know the children and to understand their needs so that she can advocate on their behalf. She says that her biggest struggle as a CASA is “feeling that children are unhappy and struggling with decisions made by adults that may or may not be in their best interest.” Her role as a CASA allows for her to be a voice for children in the Foster Care system and to speak on their behalf.

We are grateful to have an advocate with the compassion and commitment that Jody has. Her service to her community and these children has made, and will continue to make a big difference in their lives.